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Thomas Fordyce in his Local Records mentions the fact that on this day in history, 1854, the foundation stone for the Northumberland Dock was laid. What amazed me about the report was the fact that it was built to berth up to 600 ships!
That said, having just looked at an 1897 OS map of Percy Main, the Northumberland Dock occupied a huge span of the waterfront. I've counted 13 separate Staithes, so I would imagine that much of South East Northumberland's coal exports went out from here. Also sat in the centre of the Dock was the Hayhole Lead Works.
Here is Fordyce's report:
"The foundation-stone of the Northumberland Dock at Hayhole, near Howdon, on the Tyne, was laid by Joseph Cowen, esq, Chairman of the River Commissioners.
As a proof of the magnitude of the project, the dock is capable of containing 600 ships of various tonnage, and covers an extent of nearly 73 acres, and cost nearly £200,000.
The stonework forming the bottom of the dock is Cornish granite, some of the blocks weighing nearly 10 tons.
The dock is from the designs of Mr. Brooks, Engineer to the River Commissioners"